Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Lipid Carriers in Severe Allergic Inflammation

Abstract

The resolution of inflammation is a complex process that is critical for removing inflammatory cells and restoring tissue function. The dysregulation of these mechanisms leads to chronic inflammatory disorders. Platelets, essential cells for preserving homeostasis, are thought to play a role in inflammation as they are a source of immunomodulatory factors. Our aim was to identify key metabolites carried by platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PL-EVs) in a model of allergic inflammation. PL-EVs were isolated by serial ultracentrifugation using platelet-rich plasma samples obtained from platelet apheresis from severely (n = 6) and mildly (n = 6) allergic patients and non-allergic individuals used as controls (n = 8). PL-EVs were analysed by a multiplatform approach using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively). PL-EVs obtained from severely and mildly allergic patients and control individuals presented comparable particle concentrations and sizes with similar protein concentrations. Strikingly, PL-EVs differed in their lipid and metabolic content according to the severity of inflammation. L-carnitine, ceramide (Cer (d18:0/24:0)), and several triglycerides, all of which seem to be involved in apoptosis and regulatory T functions, were higher in PL-EVs from patients with mild allergic inflammation than in those with severe inflammation. In contrast, PL-EVs obtained from patients with severe allergic inflammation showed an alteration in the arachidonic acid pathway. This study demonstrates that PL-EVs carry specific lipids and metabolites according to the degree of inflammation in allergic patients and propose novel perspectives for characterising the progression of allergic inflammation.

Keywords

• extracellular vesicles
• platelets
• lipids
• inflammation
• allergy
• metabolomics